St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-03
THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
Yesterdays Developments Regarding
the Fidelity Bank.
INTERESTING TESTIMONY.
Herr Mosps Kick--People Who We're
Hanged, or Are in the Galiows'
Shadow.

Sc0neld. Oh the flrSC National Dank OIL
New York, resumed his testimoney in
the Harper trial to-day. He testified
that on February IL and % the Fidelity
had to its credit in his bank only
$1,000. If the entries in the Fidelity
books showed a larger balance they
were false. Gen. Eugene Powell,
national bank examiner, was the next
witness. He had examined the books
of the Fidelity on March II, 1887, and
found everything straight. On June Is,
being alarmed by rumorS as to the
banks connection with the wheat deal,
he appeared to make second eXamina-
ton. Harper, Hopkins and Baldwin
were present. Harper said he had
written to the department at Washing
ton. stating that his bank had met with
losses and showed friendly reply.
He then made an examination and
found three certificates of deposit, ag-
gregating 100000, bearing no date.
There were no entries or these certiti-
Gates OH the books. Gen. Powell, on
June 80, notified the directors that so
much of their resources had been wasted
that he would be compelled to
CLOSE THE BANK.
John K. Vowel, late discount clerk
~ W.
IA, 1887, at the direction of Mr.. Harper.
he sent discount paper to the extent of
81, 0O0. 600 to the Chemical bank of New
York. June 20 Harper told him that on
April 2S $4,000 discount paper had
been sent to the First National of New
York. On May 3, 1887. the Fidelity's
books showed discounts to E. l.. Harper
& Co. amounting to sl4S.000 and to E.
l.. Harper for S25, 900. Harper gave
Yowell directions to discount the paper
of f. L. Harper IL Co. Mr.. Quinlan, of
the Chemical bank, New York, was re-
called to testify about whether the draft
upon his bank for $4,000, mentioned in
his testimony yesterday, had gone to
Harper'S individual account or not. He
said he had received a telegram that
would enable him to answer, but the
evidence in that form was ruled mad
miSsible. Paul p. AShbrook, smooth
faced. boyisb-looking witness was next.
Mr.. Harper Saluted him with nod and
smile as he took his place. Mr.. Ash
brook returned the Salutation with I'M
affected dignity. The reason for these
greetings became apparent wien the
witness stated that he was the individ-
ual boOkkeeper of the Fidelity
National bank, and had charge of ac-
included Mr. Harper's. 1t was concern
ing this that he was called to testify.
He said Harper'S account was frequent
" Oxerdrawn. At one time in May it
was oyerdrawn $4,000. He indicated
overdrafts at the time they were made
in Harper'S account, but after they
were made in the account of Harper Il
Co. Witness read the fluctuations of
Harper's and other accounts in which
he was interested from January to June.
Nearly all were oyerdrawn at some
time. After the failure witness had
marked the oyerdrafts DR." in red ink.
Usually OyerdraftS ran for short time,
but Mr.. Harper had told him these were
to run for some time. Witness was not
sure that Harper had instructed him to
omit the DR." on these Overdrafts. c.
J. Kershaw, the Chicago broker. was re-
called. and identified number of letters
of advice signed by Hopkins, assistant
cashier of the Fidelity bank; alsoa
number of kilograms signed Fidelity
bank. relating to transfers of money by
the L. d ,lity to the American Exchange
National Bank of Chicago. When the
district attorney called Briggs Swift
there was a murmur of expectation, for
this is the name of
THE VENERABLE PRESIDENT
of the late Fidelity bank. A tail straight
man, with white hair and beard, both
scanty, walked with almost youthful
step TO the witness stand. This was
Briggs Swift, a man who has lived more
than his three score and ten years. and
who has spent all of his business life in
Cincinnati. with never so much as
stain upon his business integrity until
the mercileSs hand of the government
placed an indictment upon its records
against him along with Harper and
other officers of this bank. There are
few business men i'll Cincinnati who
could conceive Of Briggs Swift doing
dishonorable act. and there was much
curiosity as to how he would take it
when called as witness. Almost the
first question produced laughter. He
was asked if he knew his bank
did not:r was his blunt answer. He
then went on to say that he asked
Harper in January last if he was in the
wheat deal and Harper said he had not
a dollar in it. Later sent him letter
asking the same question, and he re-
piled by letter, saying he had no inter
est whatever in the matter, and if any
man said he had he was liar. After
wards | often spoke to him about it, and
he always contradicted the rumors that
he was in the deal. When the public
began to suspect the Fidelity bank and
l wanted to restore confidence, | went
to the bank with Richard Smith. of the
Gazette. who has known me for years,
and together we catechised Harper on
the subject. We put him on the stand
and he deniedit. Then Mr.. Smith, upon
my assurance and upon Harper's eX-
press statement, wrote an editorial
denying that the Fidelity bank was
mixed up in the affair. This was but a
few days before the failure